Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol 47, Issue 2 111-122, Copyright © 1985 by American Psychosomatic Society

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Emotional adjustment of early adolescents with cystic fibrosis

RJ Simmons, M Corey, L Cowen, N Keenan, J Robertson and H Levison

Eighty-five 12- to 15-year-old adolescents regularly attending the cystic fibrosis (CF) clinic of The Hospital for Sick Children were asked to complete the Children's Health Locus of Control and the Tennessee Self Concept Scale. Their parents were requested to complete the Child Behavior Checklist. Thirty-four males (72%) and 28 females (74%) participated in the study. This study found that adolescents with CF are able to maintain a good self concept, be socially competent, and perceive that they are in control of their health while showing an increase in behavior problems. Females rely heavily on denial and are more behaviorally compliant, whereas boys use less denial but show more behavior problems. Males appear to integrate having a physical disorder into their self concept, whereas females do not. The findings demonstrate a difference in mechanisms of coping with cystic fibrosis between male and female adolescents with CF, which may contribute to the decline in physical status in females and better survival of males.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. M. Powers, R. Gerstle, and A. Lapey Adolescents With Cystic Fibrosis: Family Reports of Adolescent Health-Related Quality of Life and Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second Pediatrics, May 1, 2001; 107(5): 70e - 70. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H. Admi Growing up with a Chronic Health Condition: A Model of an Ordinary Lifestyle Qual Health Res, May 1, 1996; 6(2): 163 - 183. [Abstract] [PDF]